Are EMD prime movers a relic of the past?

prrhorseshoecurve posted:

I just saw an article that Cummins prime movers are going to be used in Amtrak's new 70 unit Siemens Charger locomotive orders.

Those should sure be interesting in long haul passenger service.

How reliable are Cummins diesel prime movers compared to the EMD 710 and 645 prime movers?

Not even close! High speed Diesel engines have yet to be proven successful in U.S. railroad main line applications. They seem to work fine for yard switchers.

Are Cummins and Cat engines that different?

Yes, besides that fact that they are both four stroke cycle Diesel engines. 

What about Cummins and GE prime movers?

Again, one can not really compare high speed diesels to long proven medium speed diesels in U.S. railroad service.

Unless they are retroactively legislated out of existence, we should be seeing EMD two-strokes for the at least the next thirty years or so, probably longer than I will be on this earth.  Railroads are still taking delivery of Tier IV credit units , so even on the short end of the stick, figure 15-20 more years.  Nobody has yet to make a better locomotive prime mover, only arbitrary EPA policy has hindered them going much farther forward.  The transition to EMD four stroke power is not one ANYBODY who actually buys and uses these engines wanted to make, they were forced into it, so unless there is some unforeseen big increase in power or efficiency in our future, I suspect railroads will ride the 645 and 710 pony as long as they possibly can.